Top 10 Superhero Movies That Aren’t Based On Comics

#4 Midnight Special

Yes, this is a 2016 film, so it might seem too early to make any conclusions on it, but bear with me. Midnight Special is a superb genre film that is nearly perfect when it comes to capturing the fascinatingly dark relationship between “the chosen one” and his father. You know, without the “Jesus” thing dominating the imagery. And again, we have another superhero film somewhat disguised as a sci-fi.

Looking back, this was the movie version of Stranger Things before most of us even knew that show was coming, and the similarities don’t stop with the idea of a strange kid with powers. The concept of parallel dimensions and unhelpful government ops are all at play in Midnight Special, but it rarely feels like anything we’ve seen before (mostly due to its original style and unforgettable moments).

It works better because it has no comic to lean on. The concept is also quite removed from typical superhero story structure and more akin to fictional ballads like Lord of The Rings. The boy, Alton, is a fascinating prototype superhero, and we see a full picture of his powers’ downsides and dangerous implications as his father and family friend try to smuggle him across the country for a supernatural event. It’s more Spielberg than director Jeff Nichols has ever pulled off, and that’s certainly not a bad thing.